Recommend me some binoculars...

[ged]

Tasco...

... common brand of cheap optics in the UK. Cheap, being the operative word. Avoid IMO.

Agreed. They try to sell things with performance claims that are well beyond the optically possible and I would never buy any prduct of theirs on that basis alone. Here is an extract from this article for example:

"Tasco 525 X 60 Telescope
525X magnification. 60mm objective lens.
Optimum usage up to 185X magnification." etc.

I can't see why the law does not protect against this kind of advert. Whilst it cannot be claimed that the advertisement gives false information, if you simply do the sums it will magnify 525X. The fact is the instrument will be totally unusable for astronomy at this magnification, which amounts to the same thing!

The worst of it is that, in order to support these claims the instrument is sold with a set of accessories that do not allow it to operate within its true optimum range.

 

[Ronnie]

What are Praktica like? I remember being quite fond of their old SLR's back in the day.

 

[spoony]

They also do some cheapo ones

 

[CAL]

I bought my wife some Practica zoom compacts a few years ago and they are great. Not top quality images at the upper end of the zoom but great at the other levels and a nice compact size.

 

[Mike_B]

Opticrons again - I've had a few £60/70 pairs as well over the years, from otehr makers, none of which really did the job properly - spending £200 on the 8x20 Opticrons hurt at the time but they really are excellent and have been used and abused for years now.

One thing no one has mentioned, but really is relevant, is that what works for one person may not work for another. I'm talking about how they feel, but also how they fit against your eyes - if you wear specs, then that's a whole other ballgame.

Some of the binos I've had suffered badly from "blacking out", others tended to suffer from little irritations like the diopter adjustment constantly changing. The Opticrons just "work" - for me anyway.

Try, try, and try before you buy - a recommendation really should be just that, a suggestion as to what's potentially worth trying. I've also got a pair of Zwaro's which I adore, and while not up at the rarified £900 end of the Zwaro range, (only £900? - that's not a lot in Zwaro terms - - ) they really are superb glasses. All that said, if a £50, £200 or £700 pair all seem to give the same results for what they are being used for, then spend wisely!

I tried some expensive Leicas at the weekend, and didn't like them at all, yet they are highly regarded.

My partner is delighted with a £13 pair bought from 7DayShop (they have some good stuff) and for the price, they really are rather good for what she uses them for.

Mike.